Ladies 3rd XI Vs Torbay 2

Okehampton Ladies 3rds – 4                                                       Torbay 2nds - 2

When Okehampton travelled to Torbay in the first half of the season they were well beaten and were determined to give a better account of themselves in this return fixture.   They did just that!

This was a terrific match with positive hockey played by both sides, creating end to end goal scoring chances.   Okehampton were first off the mark when they were awarded a short corner which Alex Collins struck well to open the account.  Torbay quickly pressed forward searching for an equaliser which came from a well-worked move down their right hand flank. 

Player of the match, Izzy Rowlands, was impressive in holding the middle and cutting out the danger posed by Torbay’s young forwards.  Ahead of her, Sarah Marvin was picking up the loose balls and spreading the play, particularly in the first half to her daughter, Eleanor, who found space on the left to run at the defence and make inroads down the wing. 

When the ball eventually fell to Anna Crome, she sprinted from the halfway line, gliding round the outcoming defence and slotting the ball neatly past the goalkeeper for an outstanding individual goal. This inspired the home side and there was now a palpable sense of belief they could win as they asserted their authority in all areas of the pitch.

Torbay were visibly rocked when again the ball was passed forward at speed with some neat play between the front pairing of Alex Collins and Sophie Tripp, who unselfishly fed the ball back to her strike partner, for Alex to tap in her second.

Right wing, Ligaya Coatham, saw more of the ball in the second half and made some mazy runs down the wing, adding strength to the attack.  Generally, the Columbine players were first to the ball, always looking for an opportunity to go forward and things got worse for Torbay, when Anna Crome made it four with a well struck shot from the edge of the circle.

The visitors rallied and Okehampton could not rest on their laurels. Goalkeeper, Carol Newcombe, had to make some smart saves but could do nothing about the shot that was rifled into the back of the goal from a well taken corner.  Torbay are comfortably above Okehampton in the league and this could have led to a nervy last 20 minutes.  But Sandy Houston, Sarah Bazeley and Lois Rowlands who had defended well both as a unit and in the one-on-ones, calmly marshalled any attacking threat with Sandy Houston having the confidence to play the ball out and distribute to her front players to take possession away from Torbay. 

This was an exceptional team performance from Okehampton and they ran out deserved winners.

Next week, Okehampton 3rds are away at Exe 5ths